Exercising device



' J y 1965 E. E. HOLKESVICK ETAL 3,

EXERQISING DEVICE Filed June 12, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .115 wax? E .7124 ksswcw,

clomv 1171011441, Rosenr WADAMSI,

INVENTORS.

BY THE/Q Arrwqwefsl .HZnms Idler/4 Russ-E41. 51550! United States Patent 3,197,2l24 EXERQESENG HBEVE CE Eollaesviclr, Fullerton, and Sohn l-ludnall and Robert W. Adams, Los Angeles, fialii, assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to E. Holisesviclr, Fullerton, Quilt.

Filed June 12, 19-61, den No. 116,393 12 Claims. (Ql. 272-79} The present invention relates generally to the physical conditioning art and more particularly to a novel exercising device which is especially suitable for home use. use.

Briefly stated, one embodiment of the present invention comprises a body member which includes an elongated cylindrical shaft having hub portions at each end thereof. Axially extending passageways are provided in the hub portions so that a length of rope can be inserted through a passageway in one hub portion, thence around the shaft, and then out through a passsageway in the other hub portion, or, the rope can be doubled back and returned in a similar fashion through diametrically opposed passageways in the hub portion. in this manner the rope is in sliding frictional engagement with the shaft whereby the user must exert a certain amount of force, and thereby exercise various muscles of the body, in pulling the rope through the device. Means are provided for supporting the device from adjacent an end or from adjacent the center thereof so that the rope can be pulled in a continuous manner, or alternately back and forth. In one embodiment, means are also provided for easily and quickly adjusting the number of turns of rope around the shaft by having one hub portion rotatable relative to the other hub portion.

It is well known that there are various types of exercising devices on the market and in use at the present time, some of which are limited to gymnasium usage, while others are usable in the home. However, most of the better exercising devices are relatively expensive, others are quite cumbersome and noisy, some are dangerous, and many which are relatively small and inexpensive are not satisfactory because they are limited in their usage and cannot be adjusted to suit the need of the person desiring to use them. Thus, exercising devices which employ springs and resilient members have been known to break or slip and thereby injure the user.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a novel exercising device which is especially suitable for home use, i.e. one which is quiet, safe, and relatively inexpensive.

Another object is to provide such a device which can be easily and quickly adjusted to meet the individual requirements of each user.

A further object is to provide a novel exercising device which can be employed for all types of conventional exercisers, such as those employing pushing, pulling, and bending.

Another object is to provide such a device which provides a continuous resistance of constant magnitude throughout its range of motion, as differentiated from a spring or similar type of resilient member where the resistance varies depending on the amount of extension.

Yet another object is to provide a novel exercising device which is compact in size and light in weight whereby it can be used in almost any type or size of room in a home, and which can be easily carried when traveling.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown. a

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a novel exercising device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, shown in controlled adjustable position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4- is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 in FIG. 2, showing the device in the freely rotatable position;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view, partially in cross section, showing a modified exercising device embodying the same inventive concept but lacking the full adjustability of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 5;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the modified construction taken on the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view, partially in section, illustrating another modified construction;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 19-11 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view, partially in cross section, illustrating yet another modified construction;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view, partially in cross section, illustrating a very basic or simplified exercising device embodying the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, showing a device of the type illustrated in FIG. 9 provided with a length of rope with operating handles; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view, also on a reduced scale, showing the device of FIG. ll provided with a length of rope which is pulled continuously in one direction during the operation of the device.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, specifically FIGS. 1 through 5, 1a indicates generally an exercising device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, which includes a body member 18 and a sleeve member 29 removably and adjustably mounted thereon.

The body member 18 contains an elongated shaft portion 22, preferably of cylindrical cross section, with an upper hub portion 2 2- with an outer peripheral surface 25 adjacent the upper end thereof, said hub portion being provided with two diametrically opposed, vertically extending passageways or slots as in the outer peripheral surface which have the bottom or inner ends thereof flared outwardly in an are as at 28, for a purpose to appear. A plate-like tongue portion 3t? projects upwardly above the upper hub portion and contains an aperture 32, the lower part of said aperture coinciding with a groove 34 contained in the upper or end surface of the hub portion and interconnecting the slots 26. If desired, the tongue could be provided with two separate apertures, one adjacent the upper end thereof and one in registry with the groove 34, but it is preferable from a machining standpoint to employ a single elongated aperture.

The lower end of the shaft 2 2 contains a stud portion 36 of reduced diameter which provides a shoulder 38 between it and the shaft 22. Slidably and rotatably mounted on the stud portion 36 is a lower hub member 40 with an outer peripheral surface 42 which also contains two diametrically opposed passageways or slots 44 in said outer surface, the upper or inner ends of the slots 44 being flared outwardly in an are as at 46 in a manner similar to the construction of the slots 26. A disc-like stop member is fastened to the lower end of the stud portion 36 by a screw 5d, thereby limiting the vertical movement of the lower hub member 4t) between an upper position in which it abuts the shoulder 33 and a lower position in which it abuts the stop member The sleeve member 243 has an inside diameter which is only slightly greater than the outside diameter of the hub portion 24 and the hub member 49, and is of a length to extend between the outer ends of the hubs when the lower hub member is in the upper position as shown in FIG. 2. The lower end of the sleeve member 2% is rem ovably fastened to the lower hub member 4-0 as by means of a machine'screw 52. Formed in the upper end of the sleeve member 20 are a plurality of circumferentially spaced, circular openings 54 (FIG. 2) which are adapted to receive a detent 56 with a rounded outer end surface which is positioned in a socket (FIG. 3) contained in a flattened surface 59 of the upper hub portion 24 and urged into the sleeve-engaging direction by a coiled spring 69.

It will be apparent that when the lower hub member 46 is in the upper or controlled rotation position, the lower hub member and the sleeve 2t) can be rotated, notchby-notch, relative to the shaft 22 and the upper hub portion 24, the detent 56 being cammed into a retracted position as the sleeve is rotated relative thereto and thence moving out to an opening engaging position when the next opening 54 comes into alignment therewith.

On the other hand if one wishes to quickly rotate the sleeve member Ztl and the lower hub member relative to the upper hub portion (e.g. where it is desirable to make several complete revolutions hurriedly) the lower hub memberdzi can be moved to the lower or free position (FIGS. 4 and 5) in which the openings 54 in the upper end of the sleeve member 25 are below the detent 56, whereby the latter is in free sliding engagement with the smooth inner surface of the sleeve member. It will be noted that by adjusting the length of the sleeve member 20, the free rotation can be achieved with the lower hub member 46 in either the upper or the lower position.

However, the illustrated construction is preferred because otherwise the sleeve member would project upwardly adjacent the tongue portion 39 during the free rotation operation.

When the device is to be used as an exerciser, a length of rope 62 could be inserted upwardly through one of the slots 44 in the lower hub member 40, through one of the slots 26 in the upper hub portion 24, through the groove 34-, and thence downwardly through the other slots 26 and 44. The sleeve member 20 could then be rotated the desired number of turns, or portions of a turn, with the bottom hub member in either the upper or lower position so as to cause the rope 6% to be wrapped around the shaft 22 the desired number of turns as shown in FIG. 2. Ohviously, this manner of inserting the rope into the device would have to be followed if the openings 26 and 44 were enclosed passageways instead of slots which are open to the outer surfaces of the hubs. This type of construction would function satisfactorily but would not have the additional advantages contained in the preferred construction.

Therefore, it will be understood that in the preferred construction illustrated, the rope is easily and quickly installed in the device by first removing the screw 52, slipping the sleeve member 20 from the body member 18, inserting the rope through the aperture 30 and then dropping both ends of the rope downwardly into the grooves 26 and 44 on the opposite sides of the body member. Thereafter, the sleeve members 20 can be quickly replaced on the body member and the screw 52 returned to its securing position. The sleeve member 21 and the lower hub member 40 can then be rotated the desired number of turns or portions of a turn, as previously described.

When the rope 62 has been properly positioned in the device, the exerciser 16 may be suspended from a support such as a hook or peg, by means of the aperture 32, or, a special strap 59 with a metal ring 61 at one end and a doubled-back portion 63 at the other end thereof can be inserted through the aperture 32 in the manner shown in FIG. 1 and the part of the strap containing the portion 63 placed between the top or side of a door and the door frame adjacent thereto.

The operator can then grasp one end of the rope 62 projecting from the bottom of the device, and, by pulling on it in a hand-over-hand fashion, exercise certain muscles of the body. The outer surface of the shaft portion 22 and the inner surfaces of the slots 26 and 44 are preferably polished to reduce the amount of Wear of the rope resulting from the operation of the device, It will also be noted that the arcuate surfaces 28 and 46 at the inner ends of the slots 26 and 4 -3, respectively, conform to the shape of the rope 62. which is twisted around the shaft portion 22 so as not to adversely affect the frictional drag on the rope or cause an undue amount of wear, as would result if sharp corners were used. Stating it differently, it has been found advisable to have smooth continuous surfaces devoid of sharp projections for best all around operation of the device. Thus, it will be noted that the device provides a continuous resistance of constant magnitude (per setting) throughout the entire range of motion.

If the exercising device is positioned above the users head, the muscles which are exercised during a hand-overhand pulling of the rope through the device as previously described would be the sameas those exercised by a handover-hand climbing of a fixed rope. On the other hand, if the device were on a level with the user as the latter turned away from it, the result would be somewhat similar to that achieved by pulling on springs or by lifting weights actuated through a pulley arrangement.

After the rope has been pulled through the device in one direction, the user can grasp the other end of the rope and pull it through in the opposite direction. Another manner of using the device is to pull alternately on first one end of the rope and then on the other end thereof so as to move the rope back and forth through the device.

It will be obvious from the above description that the amount of friction, and therefore the amount of force required to pull the rope through the device, can be varied at will by merely rotating the sleeve member 29 and the lower hub member 4% relative to the shaft 22 and the up-' per hub portion 24. Also, as previously mentioned, this can be achieved either a notch at a time as when the lower hub member 4% is in the upper position, or by one or more complete turns as when the lower hub member 40 is in the lower position. Thus, a user may wish to start with a relatively low frictional resistance and gradually increase the amount of force required to pull the rope through the device, as by rotating the sleeve one notch each day.

It will be readily apparent that this small, quiet, safe, and relatively inexpensive exercising device can take the place of many larger and more cumbersome devices.

Another embodiment of the present invention, which is shown in FIG. 6, is somewhat more simple than the device described above, and although it has a certain amount of adjustability, it is not as fully adjustable as the previously described embodiment. The modified construction includes a shaft 64 which has hub portions es and 63 at the opposite ends thereof, the hub portion or being preferably provided with two axially extending diametrically opposed slots 7t), and the hub portion 63 being preferably provided with a single axially extending slot 72. It is preferred that the slot 72 be in axial alignment with one of the slots '71) for ease in forming. Here again, the slots could be replaced with enclosed passageways or holes but the slot construction is by far the preferred one for obvious reasons. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 the inner ends of the slots 74") are flared outwardly in an arcuate manner as at 74, and the inner end of the slot 72 is flared outwardly as at 76 in the same manner.

the hub portions 66 and 6%. guide portion 32' which projects inwardly over the outer peripheral surface of the hub portion 63 for a purpose to appear. The hub portion 66 contains a recess 84 in a flattened area which receives a spring-biased detent 86 which is similar in construction to the one previously described.

Slidably and removably mounted on the hub portions is a tubular sleeve member 83 which includes a slot 9% at one end thereof and an aperture 92 at the other end, preferably in axial alignment with the slot dd. The slot 90 is of a width to receive the guide portion 82 of the flange, and the length of the sleeve member is such that when it is moved to the right so as to fully engage the guide portion in the slot (FIG. 6), the aperture 92 is in alignment with the detent as and the sleeve member is maintained in position.

To use the device as an exerciser, the detent 86 is depressed against the action of the spring, and the sleeve 38 removed from the body member. The rope 62 is positioned in the slot '72, wrapped around the shaft 64 the desired number of times, and then positioned in either of the slots 70. Thereafter, the sleeve 88 is slipped over the hub portions 66 and 68 with the slot 90 in alignment with the guide portion 82, and, when the sleeve is fully on the body member, the detent 86 is engaged in the aperture 92.

if the person desires to use the device in such a mannet that the rope 62 is pulled through it in one direction, it would be hung from a support by means of the aperture On the other hand, if the rope is to be pulled back and forth, first with one arm and then with the other arm, the device would be supported by means of the aperture 82.

When it is desired to change the amount of force required to pull the rope through the device, the detent 36 can be depressed and the sleeve member 83 quickly removed from the body member and the rope removed from the slot 7% and either unwrapped from or wrapped further around the shaft 64. Thereafter, the sleeve member is reinserted on the body member as previously described. It will be noted that the two diametrically opposed slots 7 a) in the hub portion 66 provide for a halfturn adjustment, and, if a quarter-turn adjustment were desired, a third slot could be provided between the two diametrically opposed slots 7%.

As in the embodiment first described, the arcuate surfaces l4 and 76 permit the rope 62 to be twisted around the shaft 54 without causing undue wear or additional pressure at the edges of the slot.

A further modified construction, shown in F168. 9 and 10, is somewhat similar to the construction shown in FIG. 6 in that it includes a shaft 94 with said hub portions 96 and 93 at each end thereof, one of which has a single slot 1th) and the other of which is provided with two diametrically opposed slots fill. This modification is also provided with a spring-biased detent 192 which is similar in construction to the one previously described. However, in the second modification a sleeve portion 194 with a double-flanged portion 186 is formed from sheet material which is wrapped around the hub portions $6 and 9S and the free ends thereof fastened together with rivets 198. An opening 11%? is formed in the two face-toface flange portions and a two-piece annular eye member 132 swaged together to further fasten together the twopiece flange portion 1%. The sleeve portion 194- is also rovided with a small aperture 114 at the bottom thereof to receive the detent 162 and maintain the sleeve portion on the body member.

In use, a rope is employed with the second modified construction in the same manner as previously described with reference to the modification shown in FIG. 6. Also, it will be readily apparent that the sleeve portion 104 can be easily and quickly removed from the body member by depressing the detent 1%)2 whereby the position of the The tongue 78 includes a 6 rope can be changed relative to the number of turns on the shaft 94.

A third embodiment, shown in FIG. 11, is very similar to the construction shown in FIG. 9 in that a sleeve portion 115 and a flange portion 118 are formed from sheet material which is wrapped around the hub portion and riveted together at 12%. However, in this construction, a separate plate lilte supporting bracket 122 is fastened to the flan e portion 11? by the rivets 12%, said supporting bracket containing an elongated arcuate slot 124. It will be noted that when the device is supported on a stud or book which projects through the slot 124, tilting the device will cause the stud or book to slide to either one end or the other of the slot, depending upon which end of the rope is being pulled, so that the rope will extend from the device in substantial axial alignment therewith.

A fourth modification and slightly different embodiment of the same invention is shown in FIG. 12. It will be noted that in all of the embodiments previously described, each was provided with a sleeve member to prevent the rope from escaping from the slot, which has been mentioned as the preferred construction. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, a separate sleeve is not necessary and therefore it is a very simple and economical construction. Thus, it includes a shaft 126 which has two hub portions 123 and 13% formed integral therewith at the ends thereof. The hub portion 128 has a single axially extending passageway 132 therethrough, and the hub portion 13% has a similar passageway 13% in alignment with the passageway 132. Here again, the inner ends of the passageway are preferably flared outwardly in the same manner as previously described in order to prevent the rope from binding on the corners. Diametrically opposite to the aforementioned passageways are two tapped recesses 136 and 133 which are also in alignment and which receive machine screws Mil and 14-2, respectively. These screws removably fasten a wire-like arcuate supporting member Md to the hub portions approximately from the pasageways 132 and 134.

To use this modified construction as an exercising device, a rope is inserted through one passageway, wrapped around the shaft the desired number of times, and then inserted through the other passageway. The device can then be hung from a support such as a door knob or the like (not shown) by means of the support member 144-, and the device used in the manner previously described. Thus, it will be noted that the modification shown in FIG. 12 has somewhat the same action as the modification shown in FIG. 11 in that the arcuate supporting member 144 permits the device to pivot about the supporting stud or door knob depending upon which end of the rope is being pulled.

Although this embodiment has the disadvantage that it is necessary to rethread the rope 1% through the openings each time an adjustment is made, it is extremely simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and, for that reason, has certain advantages over the other constructions previously described.

As mentioned hereinabove, a short length of rope can be pulled through any of these devices first in one direction and then in the other, or, a relatively long length of rope can be pulled continuously in one direction and then the direction reversed so as to pull the rope continuously in the other direction. FIG. 13 shows the device'of PEG. 9 provided with a relatively short length of rope 1.48 which has stirrup-like handles 15% and 152 fastened to the ends thereof, whereby the rope can be moved back and forth by pulling first on one handle and then on the other. On the other hand, Fl. 14 shows the device of FIG. 11 mounted on a peg 153 and provided with a relatively long length of rope 154 which has removable gripping members 14% mounted thereon, whereby the rope can be pulled through the device first in one direction and then in the other direction, The gripping members 156 re preferably made of a soft resilient material such as Bl rubber or one of the synthetic foams such as polyurethane or styrofoam, and are generally cylindrical in shape with a longitudinal slot for receiving the rope 154. The slots are preferably larger than the diameter of the rope when the gripping members are in the free position so that the user can move his hands, one in front of the other, with the gripping members positioned'therein. Obviously, the person using the device could wear leather gloves to protect his hands instead of using the gripping members 156.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided a novel exercising device, together with several modifications thereof embodying the same inventive concept, which ful fills all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. All of the embodiments are simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and are of light weight and small size whereby they can be easily carried from one location to another or stored away in a small space. Furthermore, they are safe and noiseless and are therefore well suited for home use. All of the devices are adjustable so that the user can vary the amount of force required to pull a rope through the device, and the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 permits a fine adjustment to be made easily and quickly by merely rotating the sleeve member relative to the body member until the desired change is achieved. However, the amount of resistance at any one setting is substantially constant so as to require a continuous pull of constant magnitude throughout the range of movement. The exercising device described herein is also of universal application in that it can be employed to exercise the same muscle which would be used in climbing a rope, pulling springs, lifting weights actuated through pulleys, and the like. It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given only by way of illustration and example and that changes and alterations in the present disclosure which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention.

We claim:

ll. An exercising device for use with a length of rope, comprising: a body member including a shaft with opposed ends and a hub portion at each end, one of said hub portions being fixed relative to the shaft and the other hub portion being rotatable relative thereto; two axially extending diametrically opposed passageways in each of said hub portions of a size to slidably receive said rope; detent means on one of said hub portions; a sleeve member removably mounted on the other hub portion and extending to adjacent said one hub portion; retaining means on the sleeve for engagement with the detent means to releasably maintain the sleeve member in select d rotated position; and means fastened adjacent one end of the body member for suspending the device from a support.

2. An exercising device for use with a length of rope, comprising: a shaft with upper and lower ends; a hub portion fixed at the upper end of the shaft; a hub member rotatably mounted on the lower end of the shaft, the hub portion and the hub member each containing two axially extending, diametrically opposed passageways of a size to slidably receive said rope; detent means on the hub portion; a sleeve member mounted on the hub member and including an upper end extending to the hub portion; circumferentially spaced retaining means at the upper end of the sleeve for engagement with the detent means to releasably maintain the sleeve member in selected rotated position; and means fastened to the upper end of the shaft for suspending the device from a support.

3. An exercising device for use with a length of rope, comprising: a shaft with upper and lower ends; a hub portion with an outer peripheral surface and an end surface fixed at the upper end of the shaft; a hub member with an outer peripheral surface rotatably mounted on the lower end of the shaft; two axially extending, diametrically opposed slots in the outer surfaces of the hub portion and the .hub member of a size to slidably receive said rope; a groove in the end surface of the hub portion interconnecting the slots contained therein; spring-biased detent means on the hub portion; a sleeve member mounted on the hub member and including an upper end extending to the hub portion; circumferentially spaced retaining means at the upper end of the sleeve for engagement with the detent means; and means at he upper end of the shaft for suspending the device from a support.

An exercising device for use with a length of rope, comprising: a shaft with upper and lower ends; a hub portion fixed at the upper end of the shaft; a hub member. rotatably mounted on the lower end of the shaft and havinglimited axial movement relative thereto, said hub member being axially movable between a controlled movement position and a free movement position; two axially extending, diametrically opposed passageways in both the hub portion and the hub member, said passageways being of a size to slidably receive said rope; detent means on the hub portion; a sleeve member mounted on the hub member and including an upper end extending to the hub portion; retaining means on the upper end of the sleeve member for engagement with the detent means for re leasably maintaining the sleeve member in selected rotated position when the hub member is in the controlled movement position, the detent means and the retaining means being disengaged when the hub member is in the free movement position whereby the sleeve member has substantially unrestrained rotational movement relative to the hub portion; and means at the upper end of the shaft for suspending the device from a support.

5. An exercising device for use with a length of rope, comprising: a body member including a shaft portion with opposed ends and a hub portion adjacent each end thereof, one of said hub portions being rotatable relative to the other hub portion; means for releasably maintaining said rotatable hub portion in selected rotated position; two axially extending, circumferentially spaced passageways in each of said hub portions of a size to slidably receive said rope; and means connected to the device adjacent one of said hub portions for suspending it from a support.

6. An exercising device for use with a length of rope, comprising: a body member including a shaft portion with an outer surface and a hub portion adjacent each end of the shaft portion, one of said hub portions being rotatable relative to the other hub portion; means for releasably maintaining said rotatable hub portion in selected rotated position; two axially extending, circumferentially spaced passageways in each of said hub portions of a size to slidably receive said rope, the innermost surfaces of the passageway being substantially coextensive with the outer surface of the shaft portion, and the outer surface of the shaft portion and the inner surfaces of the passageways being smooth and free of sharp edges; and means connected to the device adjacent one end thereof for suspending it from a support.

7. An exercising device for use with a length of rope, comprising: a body member including a shaft portion with an outer surface and a hub portion adjacent each end of the shaft portion, the shaft portion being of a length to receive several turns of rope therearound, one of said hub portions being rotatable relative to the other hub portion; means for releasably maintaining said rotatable hub portion in selected rotated position; two axially extending, circumferentially spaced passageways with inner end portions in each of said hub portions, said passageways being of a size to slidably receive said rope, said inner end portions being flared outwardly to slidably receive a length of rope which may be positioned about said shaft portion; and means connected to the device adjacent one end thereof for suspending it from a support.

8. An exercising device, comprising in combination: a body member including an elongated shaft portion with an outer surface and a hub portion adjacent each end of the shaft portion; two axially extending, circumferentially spaced passageways in each of said hub portions; a length of rope for sliding frictional engagement with said body member extending through one passageway in one hub portion, at least partially around the shaft portion, through the passageways in the other hub portion and back to the shaft portion, at least partially around the shaft portion, and thence through the other passageway in said one hub portion, said passageways each being of a size to slidably receive said rope; and means fastened adjacent one end of the body member for suspending the device from a support.

9. An exercising device as set forth in claim 8 in which said passageways have inner surfaces which are substantially coextensive with the outer surface of the shaft portion.

10. An exercising device as set forth in claim 8 in which said passageways have inner ends which are flared outwardly to slidably guide said rope onto and off the outer surface of the shaft portion.

11. An exercising device as set forth in claim 8 in which at least two of the passageways are slot-like in form, and a sleeve member is removably mounted on the body member restraining the rope from moving trans- 10 versely out of said slot-like passageways during the operation of the device.

12. An exercising device as set forth in claim 8 in which one of said hub portions is rotatable relative to the shaft portion, and means are provided for releasably maintaining said rotatable hub portion in selected rotated position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 500,778 7/ 93 Sampson 242--154 609,106 8/98 Lauritsen 242-154 2,429,675 10/47 Eypper 242100.1 2,507,813 5/50 Prihoda 242100.1 2,723,121 11/55 Cartwright et a1 272-75 X 2,834,078 5/58 Brundage 242l00.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 486,005 8/52 Canada. 995,304 8/51 France.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, JAMES W. LOVE, DONALD W. PARKER, Examiners. 

1. AN EXERCISING DEVICE FOR USE WITH A LENGTH OF ROPE, COMPRISING: A BODY MEMBER INCLUDING A SHAFT WITH OPPOSED ENDS AND A HUB PORTION AT EACH END, ONE OF SAID HUB PORTIONS BEING FIXED RELATIVE TO THE SHAFT AND THE OTHER HUB PORTION BEING ROTATABLE RELATIVE THEREOF; TWO AXIALLY EXTENDING DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED PASSAGEWAYS IN EACH OF SAID HUB PORTIONS OF A SIZE TO SLIDABLY RECEIVE SAID ROPE; DETENT MEANS ON ONE OF SAID HUB PORTION; A SLEEVE MEMBER REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE OTHER HUB PORTION AND EXTENDING TO ADJACENT SAID ONE HUB PORTION; RETAINING MEANS ON THE SLEEVE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DETENT MEANS TO RELEASABLY MAINTAIN THE SLEEVE MEMBER IN SELECTED ROTATED POSITION; AND MEANS FASTENED ADJACENT ONE END OF THE BODY MEMBER FOR SUSPENDING THE DEVICE FROM A SUPPORT. 